Scooter on Plane/Magical Express

[disneyobessed]

My son just got his scooter and we are already trying to figure out if we should bring it to Disney next yr.. It can be broken down but IM concerned about how the airport workers will handle it.. Any advice? and...

Can the scooter fit under the bus on Magical Express or will we need a bus that can load it onto the bus..?

 

[Disney4us2]

I brought my scooter to WDW twice last year. First time on United Airlines direct flight from Los Angeles. They didn't load the scooter and had to send it on the next flight out. It was sent right to the hotel. (United paid for a one day rental).

Second trip bringing my scooter was this past August. Flying Southwest from Los Angeles with a plane change. I was able to drive my scooter down the jetway and they had an elevator to take the scooter down from the jetway. Changing planes, I just sent the scooter to the connecting flight and they had a wheelchair waiting for me at the gate. The scooter arrive when I did We went to ME and waited a lift bus. They had a regular bus waiting and they put the scooter below the bus. It worked out just fine. On the return to MCO, the scooter went under the bus again. They wouldn't let me use a lift with the scooter. Was told it is for wheelchairs only, mainly because of how much longer the scooter is vs the wheelchair. Don't know if that is true, but that is what I was told.

You should have no problems with ME. Be cautious of how the airlines handle the equipment. Will be flying Southwest again next time.

 

[disneyobessed]

Thank you so much for your response.. we will most likely be flying JetBlue.. and in the past with his stroller/wheelchair they let us bring it right down to the plane then they loaded it down below but we are a little concerned about the scooter. Is there a type of insurance to cover any damage if they airline does anything to it?

 

[POOHsie]

I brought my scooter to WDW twice last year. First time on United Airlines direct flight from Los Angeles. They didn't load the scooter and had to send it on the next flight out. It was sent right to the hotel. (United paid for a one day rental).

Second trip bringing my scooter was this past August. Flying Southwest from Los Angeles with a plane change. I was able to drive my scooter down the jetway and they had an elevator to take the scooter down from the jetway. Changing planes, I just sent the scooter to the connecting flight and they had a wheelchair waiting for me at the gate. The scooter arrive when I did We went to ME and waited a lift bus. They had a regular bus waiting and they put the scooter below the bus. It worked out just fine. On the return to MCO, the scooter went under the bus again. They wouldn't let me use a lift with the scooter. Was told it is for wheelchairs only, mainly because of how much longer the scooter is vs the wheelchair. Don't know if that is true, but that is what I was told.

You should have no problems with ME. Be cautious of how the airlines handle the equipment. Will be flying Southwest again next time.

For traveling on airlines, disconnect the batteries (easy), put the transmission in neutral (easy). I know some travelers who take the front basket with them on the plane.

As far as ME, I think because you could walk a little, they made their decision to stow your scooter. I can't walk, so their solution for you wouldn't help me. Disney pays the ME contractor to transport all people, including the disabled. Whether that meant getting me on a more assistive bus, or what, I'm not quite sure. I've been on plenty of Disney buses that had lifts, and they could lift anything. I really don't accept what you were told. (I believe it happened, I never heard of wheelchair-only lifts). How could they get a contract with Disney if that was the extent of their handicap accommodation? And why would their lifts only be able to handle wheelchairs, when their buses are bigger and mightier than standard Disney buses?

In the future, try contacting ME ahead of your trip, to arrange a bus that can accommodate your scooter on the bus lift.

 

[Escape2Disney]

One quick word of advise:

Be sure to ask them NOT to leave the scooter on the tarmac in the sun or heat. That happened to my scooter one year and the battery was melted.

Be sure to check the battery when you get the scooter back to be sure there is no damage. If there is damage, JetBlue is good about paying for a repair.

 

[SueM in MN]

The first post on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread is about the Magical Express bus, including pictures of the lift.
Depending on the individual scooter, there may be some that are too long for the lift. Wheelchairs and ECVs can be no larger than 30 inches wide and 48 inches long to use a lift of any kind.
There may be some other constraints on the lifts for buses like the DME buses because they are going up so high.

But, if an individual person can't use the lift and needs to, there are other options. They can send a smaller vehicle, more like a van that has a lower lift or a ramp.

For most people with ECVs, it's easier to put the ECV into the storage compartment under the DME bus. That way, you don't need to wait for the lift bus - not every DME bus has a lift and the wait for one to come along can sometimes be long. I included a picture of the stairway going up to get into the DME bus in the disABILITIES FAQs thread since for some people the stairs won't be a problem as long as they can see the handholds and for others, it would be an obstacle.